She gulps back large sobs, and suddenly I feel like the parent consoling the child.

"I'm-" my voice catches, and tears drip down my face. "I'm going to have to die. I- I won't let you waste your money on drugs that keep me alive. The drugs are expensive, and I'll just end up dying anyways."

"No!" The power in her voice is so great that it shakes me. "It- it- it would me-me-mean-" Tears were cascading down my mother's broken figure. "It'd mean losing you."

I opened my mouth, but couldn't think of anything to say.

"But it's for the b-b-best." I trembled.

Minutes passed before she nodded. She didn't say anything, but a waterfall of tears ran down her face as she signed the paper with a shaking hand.